Still Being a Teen

Most parents will be able to relate to this post I am sure. Most teenagers do not understand the importance of keeping in touch with their parents when they are not at home. Even though we say "call me" that tends to get lost in the shuffle and the teens get caught up in their activity and mom and dad are the last thing on their minds.

When this happens, teenagers should understand that their parents are sitting there waiting and having these horrible visions run through their minds of their child being involved in an accident, or laying in a jail cell or worse. My mother was always afraid of things and always told me to make sure I had on clean underwear before leaving...in case something like that happened.

Most times, when a teen doesn't call in, one of these events have not taken place, it's just the fact that the teen really is not interested in stopping what he/she is doing to check in with the parents.

Well imagine if you will this scenario happening with Adam at this current time in his life. As parents we are focused on getting him better and making sure that he is doing everything he needs to do to make that happen. At the same time we don't want to muffle his teen experience and we want him to maintain his relationships even though he has cancer. It has been made very clear to us from all the experts that it is important to allow Adam to continue leading as normal as a life as possible.

I guess that means not calling when he is out with friends.

His mother began to get worried as she had not heard for him in some time, and of course his cell phone was left at home.

As a parent, panic sets in. Visions of horrible things begin to move across our minds. We try to remember..."Did he put on clean underwear??" Then they come home.

It is very difficult for us to remember that Adam is still a teenager, with all those teenage emotions, feelings and confusions. He also still needs his freedom and independence to continue to find out who he is and who he will become. Even though he is dealing with a disease that has changed all of our lives, it is not changed the fact that he is still a teenager.

So did he get in trouble for not checking in with mom?

He said he did, but I doubt it was as bad as he made it out to be. I mean, he is still a teenager.